Italy Grand Driving Tour Villa d`Este – Mercedes-Benz
Drive the lakes. Experience Villa d’Este.
About This Tour
Four days behind the wheel of a classic Mercedes-Benz, the mountain roads and waterfront towns of Italy’s great lakes, and a day surrounded by some of the world’s most extraordinary collector cars at Villa d’Este. This is northern Italy made for car lovers.
Your journey begins at Milan Malpensa, where we meet for the transfer to the Hotel Splendid on Lake Maggiore. After time to settle in, we gather for welcome drinks – and then head out onto the lake. A boat takes us across the water to the Borromean Islands and Isola dei Pescatori. Dinner at Elvezia is our first evening together before we cruise back across Lake Maggiore to the hotel.
This morning, our classic Mercedes-Benz cars are waiting. After the driver briefing, choose your car and head into the mountains toward Mottarone, climbing high above Lake Maggiore for spectacular views across the lakes and Alps. Then we drop down to tiny Lake Orta and Orta San Giulio, with time to find your own spot for lunch. In the afternoon, another great stretch of road takes us through the countryside around Sacro Monte di Mesma before returning to the hotel. We meet for drinks in the early evening; dinner is on your own.
Today is all about the road. We head north into the Centovalli – the “Hundred Valleys” – where twisting roads cut through steep mountain scenery on the way toward Switzerland. By lunchtime, we reach Ascona on Lake Maggiore. After time to explore and have lunch, we follow the lake south through Brissago and Cannero Riviera. Back at the hotel, there is time to relax before our transfer to Rampolina for dinner.
For our final full day in the classics, we head south along Lake Maggiore to Castello di Angera for a guided visit. From there, the road continues through Laveno and Verbania before lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we turn toward Lake Orta and climb to Madonna del Sasso for one more panoramic stop. Then it is time for our final drive back to Lake Maggiore. The evening is free.
Today, we leave our classics behind and head for Lake Como. Our destination is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where some of the most important and beautiful collector cars in the world gather in an extraordinary lakeside setting. After a full day at the concours, we transfer to Milan and check into the Hotel Indigo in the city center. The evening is yours to explore.
After breakfast, we discover another side of Italian culture with a guided visit to La Scala and central Milan. The afternoon is yours – whether that means shopping, exploring the city or settling in somewhere for a long Italian lunch. That evening, we come together one last time for our farewell dinner at Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone in the heart of Milan’s fashion district.
Enjoy a final morning in Milan before the transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and your journey home.
Italy
There may be no better setting for a classic car than the Italian Lakes. Snowcapped mountains rise behind deep-blue water, palm trees grow beside grand 19th-century villas and small towns spill down the hillsides toward the shore. Between them runs a network of roads that seems designed for driving: tight mountain climbs, sweeping lakefront curves and quiet backroads where the view around the next corner is often as memorable as the road itself.
For three days, Lake Maggiore becomes our playground. In our classic Mercedes-Benz cars, we climb Mottarone, cross to Lake Orta, head deep into the Centovalli and drive north to Ascona in Switzerland. Another day takes us around the southern shores of Maggiore, stopping at Castello di Angera before climbing high above Lake Orta at Madonna del Sasso. Along the way, northern Italian food adds another layer to the experience – risotto and fresh lake fish, Alpine influences and wines from nearby Piedmont.
And then comes Villa d’Este. Set on Lake Como, the Concorso d’Eleganza is one of those events every serious car enthusiast should experience at least once. Rare prewar automobiles, coachbuilt masterpieces and significant collector cars are presented against a backdrop that could hardly be more spectacular. This isn’t a conventional car show. It is one of the world’s great celebrations of automotive design and history.
We finish in Milan, trading mountain roads for one of Europe’s most stylish cities. La Scala, the historic center and a final dinner in the fashion district bring the journey to a close. It is a week that moves effortlessly from driving great cars to admiring the very best of them.
Included
- Transfers from/to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Nostalgic classic Mercedes-Benz cars for self-drive incl. comprehensive insurance (€2,500 excess) and fuel
- 4 nights incl. breakfast at Hotel Splendid on Lake Maggiore
- 2 nights incl. breakfast at Hotel Indigo Milan
- 3 dinners
- Welcome drinks and get-together
- Boat transfers to the Borromean Islands
- Admission to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este; public day Villa Erba
- Admissions and guided visits as outlined in the itinerary
- Guided visit to La Scala and Milan city centre
- English-speaking tour director and support team
- Welcome gift
Not Included
- Meals unless expressly included
- Travel to/from Milan
Our Guests Say It Best
Discover what our guests say about this tour. Real experiences from drivers and travelers who have explored Europe’s most beautiful roads with us.
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- Nostalgic Travel Catalog
